Senators back incentives, raffles to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations

Senators on Friday said they are open to the idea of raffles and incentives for those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 as this will encourage more Filipinos to get immunized.

This after Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar announced an incentive program to her constituents where individuals who already got at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine could win a brand new house and lot as well as groceries and motorcycles.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said any legal and creative means could be used to encourage more Filipinos to take part in the national immunization program against COVID-19.

“By all means possible, yes. A chance at winning the lottery and other forms of incentives, and for that matter - any legal means to attract more Filipinos to get themselves vaccinated are good moves by the government, both national and local, and even the private sector to attain herd immunity at the soonest possible time not only for our people's healthy well-being but to make our economy vibrant again and get back our normal lives again,” Lacson said in a text message to reporters.

Likewise, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the government should allow any activity that will encourage the public to get vaccinated.

“To each his own! If they think it will encourage people to get vaccinated, it’s their form of invitation, let them."

Senator Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, said that the initiatives did not violate any laws.

“No law was violated. Different approaches to raise the level of awareness as to the importance of vaccination is permissible. Besides, no government funds were involved,” Tolentino explained.

However, the senator also noted that the government did not seem to have any information campaign and daily vaccination update.

Tolentino said all sectors, especially the Department of Health, should push for an aggressive information campaign to boost the public’s vaccine confidence.

So far, more than one million individuals were already vaccinated against COVID-19, the Department of Health said.

A total of 1,029,061 people have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 581,797 of whom are health workers, 195,952 are senior citizens, 250,777 are persons with comorbidities, and 535 are essential workers. — DVM, GMA News